Hypertext Webster Gateway: "fretful"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Fretful \Fret"ful\, a. [See 2d {Fret}.]
Disposed to fret; ill-humored; peevish; angry; in a state of
vexation; as, a fretful temper. -- {Fret"ful-ly}, adv. --
{Fret"ful-ness}, n.

Syn: Peevish; ill-humored; ill-natured; irritable; waspish;
captious; petulant; splenetic; spleeny; passionate;
angry.

Usage: {Fretful}, {Peevish}, {Cross}. These words all
indicate an unamiable working and expression of
temper. Peevish marks more especially the inward
spirit: a peevish man is always ready to find fault.
Fretful points rather to the outward act, and marks a
complaining impatience: sickly children are apt to be
fretful. Crossness is peevishness mingled with
vexation or anger.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

fretful
adj 1: unable to relax or be still; "a constant fretful stamping of
hooves"; "itchy for excitement"; "a restless child"
[syn: {fidgety}, {itchy}, {restless}]
2: habitually complaining; "a whining child" [syn: {querulous},
{whiney}, {whining(a)}, {whiny}]


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